Continuous mining machine



May 7, 1963 Filed June 29,

FIG.

E. c. LILLY 3,088,718

CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mg I 23:9 l a 0 w I (\l 5 a .L a a (I ml. g] T CE I l :L V \A INVENTOR 1 8 I U Edward C. LII/y 1.1M" W1 E) ATTORNEY May 7, 1963 c. LILLY CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1960 INVENTOR Edward 0 Lilly Mm M ATTORNEYS N QE 3,088,718 CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Edward C. Lilly, Beckiey, W. Va. (511 N. 3rd St, Wytheviile, Va.) Filed June 29, 1960, Ser. No. 39,610 12 Claims. ((31. 2629) The present invention relates to mining machines of types employing a power driven disintegrating or cutting head adapted to be moved into a seam or body of mineral, coal, etc., and cooperating with a conveyor arrangement for transporting disintegrated material to the rear of the machine for subsequent transportation and processing; and is more particularly concerned with a continuous miner of the general type described which employ-s a new and highly improved form of cutter or disintegrating head and a new arrangement of conveyors or conveying means whereby said machine is adapted to operate more efiiciently in a mining operation than has been possible heretofore.

Various forms of continuous miners of the general type mentioned above, have been suggested heretofore. These miners employ various forms of cutter heads, including auger type heads, full scroll cutters, borers, etc., generally adapted to disintegrate a body of material. In certain of these prior machines, the cutter or disintegrating head is mounted on a stationary frame, with means being provided for moving the head to various positions relative to the seam or body of material being mined; and in other of these prior machines the disintegrating head may be stationary but mounted on a movable frame member. In general, continuous miners of the types suggested heretofore are associated with conveyor means comprising a conveyor located centrally of the frame and adapted to convey mined material to the rear of the frame structure.

The forms of cutting or disintegrating heads and conveyors normally utilized heretofore have resulted in a number of disadvantages. In particular, these prior mining machines have, during their normal operation, caused appreciable spillage of the mined material to the sides of the machine during a mining operation; and the machine itself, far from avoiding such spillage, has in fact been so arranged that the spillage cannot be easily cleaned up, whereby appreciable additional labor is required during a mining operation. Moreover, the types of machines sug gested heretofore have, by reason of their head and conveyor arrangements, been relatively bulky, and, in particular, high apparatuses whereby they have not efliciently removed material from a seam. A further major difficulty of machines suggested heretofore has been that the types of cutter heads utilized have been complex, extremely costly to build and maintain, and difficult to keep in repair; and this is a particular problem since ease of maintenance is a prime factor in a truly efficient mining operation.

The present invention, recognizing these disadvantages of known continuous miners, is accordingly concerned with an improved miner, characterized particularly by an improved cutter head and conveyor arrangement, which serves to obviate the difiiculties of the prior art.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved continuous miner.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel cutter head for use in continuous mining operations.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel conveyor arrangement for use in continuous miners.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a continuous miner employing a side 3,088,718 Patented May 7, 1963 ice conveyor rather than the centrally located conveyor which has been characteristic of prior miners.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a continuous miner employing conveyor means so arranged that the overall mining machine may be of substantially lower construction (actually in the order of 21 inches) than has been possible heretofore; and wherein the conveyor is so arranged that it may be easily maintained and is easily accessible during operation of the miner to permit foreign materials, e.g. rock, to be manually cleaned from desired minerals, e.g. coal, as the miner and conveyor are being operated.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a continuous miner characterized by a new form of cutter head comprising partial scroll cutters, as opposed to full scrolls sometimes utilized heretofore, so positioned as to feed mined material into the mouth of the machine thereby materially reducing spillage to the sides. of the machine.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new mining machine characterized by a highly improved cutter head which is far less expensive to construct and maintain than has been the case heretofore; and arranged to permit ready assembly and disassembly of all or part of the cutter head.

In providing for the foregoing objects, and advantages, the present invention contemplates the provision of a mining machine comprising a frame member having a unique disintegrating or cutting head disposed at its forward end. This cutting head preferably takes the form of an elongated shaft extending across the front of the machine transverse to the possible direction of movement of the machine into a seam or body of material to be mined; and a plurality of partial scroll cutter members are spaced from one another both longitudinally and angularly along said shaft, preferably on tubular casing members removable as units from said shaft. As will be described hereinafter, the partial scroll members described external arcs of less than 360 degrees, preferably arcs between and and these partial scroll sections support, adjacent their external peripheries, a plurality of spaced cutter bits adapted to disintegrate a seam or body of mineral as the aforementioned shaft is rotated.

Rotation of the shaft is preferably effected by a pair of motor-driven elongated cutter chains supporting disintegrating bits thereon, with said supporting chains extending transverse to the direction of said shaft and along the direction of movement of the miner frame; and the partial scroll sections mentioned previously are so disposed and shaped relative to these cutter chains that mined material is fed rearwardly of the disintegrating head and inwardly of the ends of the shaft along the directions of elongation of the cutter chains. The material being mined is thus worked into the cutter chains, preferably along both sides thereof, during operation of the machine and is also fed rearwardly of the disintegrating head directly into the mouth of the machine with a minimum of spillage.

The material so fed rearwardly, engages a relatively small scroll type conveyor extending across the machine in a direction generally parallel to the disintegrating head shaft, and arranged to change the direction of material flow from a rearward flow to a side flow, whereby the mined material is fed entirely to one side of the mining machine at a position closely adjacent ground level. A further conveyor, preferably of the chain type, is disposed entirely along one side of the machine; and the sidewise-f-ed material is then transported to the rear of the machine along said side conveyor for further processing.

As will become apparent from the subsequent discussion, the conveyor arrangement described permits the machine to be of very low construction; and lends itself to an installation wherein the side conveyor need not be closed or covered by any other part of the machine. This completely exposed arrangement facilities conveyor maintenance; and also permits any foreign material such as rock to be readily cleaned from desired mineral being mined by a helper standing to one side of the machine adjacent the conveyor, an operation which cannot be effected by centrally located conveyors of the types conventionally employed heretofore.

The foregoing objects, advantages, construction and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a continuous miner constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 1A is a perspective detail view of the bit structure.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the miner shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 23 is a detail view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an illustrative view showing a preferred method of mining with the present machine.

Referring now to the several figures, it will be seen that a continuous miner constructed in accordance with the present invention, comprises a frame member which may be of very low construction (see FIGURE 2), actually in the order of two feet high. A cutting head generally designated 11 is mounted at the forward end of frame 10 and comprises an elongated shaft 12 extending across the front of the frame and having a length in the order of 5 /2 feet. Shaft 12 carries a pair of spaced star wheels or sprockets, 1241-1211, keyed to said shaft, and adapted to be engaged by cutter chains 2122 (to be described), whereby shaft 12 is adapted to be rotated by means to be described hereinafter. Shaft 12 is also adapted to be elevated to various positions above ground level (see FIGURE 2), preferably by hydraulic means which will also be described hereinafter.

A plurality of tubular casing members 13a, 14a, and 15a are disposed in spaced relation to one another about and along shaft 12, said tubular members being adapted for removal from said shaft when necessary for head maintenance. Tubular members 13a to 15a are held in place by set screws 13b, 14b, 15b, engaging a flattened portion of shaft 12 (see FIGURE 3). A plurality of partial scroll cutter sections designated 13 through 16 inclusive are welded to casing sections 13a, 14a, 15a at spaced locations along the direction of elongation of shaft 12, as illustrated; and these partial scroll cutter sections define outer arcuate edges 17 (see FIGURE 2) which are less than 3 60 degrees and which preferably are in the order of 90 to 180 degrees, with the overall diameter of the composite partial scroll cutter sections being substantially equal to. the spacing between the upper and lower runs of cutter chains 21 and 22.

Each of the partial scroll type cutter sections 13 through 16 supports a plurality of removably mounted cutter bits 18 adapted to effect actual disintegration of a bodyof material during mining thereof; and these cutter bits are preferably mounted in U-shaped pockets 19 (see FIG- URE 1A) disposed adjacent the periphery of the scroll type sections 13 through 16, with said bits 1S being held in place by pins20. Shaft 12 is caused to rotate ultimately by a pair of elongated cutter chains 21 and 22 having cutter bits 23 and 24 (similar to cutter bits 1 8) spaced along their length; and the chains 23 and 24, as illustrated, are so mounted that they include upper and lower runs, extending transverse to shaft 12 and along the direction of elongation of frame 10.

The partial scroll sections 13 through 16 described previously, include a first pair of scroll sections 13 and 16 respectively mounted on tubular casings 13a and 15a adjacent the opposing ends of shaft 12, outwardly of the cutter chains 21 and 22. These partial scroll sections 13 and 16 describe inwardly facing arcuate surfaces adapted to work material being mined inwardly and rearwa-rdly of the ends of shafts 12 generally along flow paths designated 25 and 26 (see FIGURE 1), whereby mined material, disintegrated by the outer sections 13 and 16, is Worked into the mouth of the machine along the directions of elongation of cutter chains 21 and 22.

To assist in guiding the material rearwardly of the cutter head 11 into the cutter chains and into the scroll type conveyor (to be described), a pair of side plates 25a and 26a are provided to aid in defining the flow paths 25 and 26 and to reduce spillage to the sides of the machine after the material has been forced rearwardly by cutter head 11; and these plates 25:: and 26a also serve as mounting plates for conveyor shaft 27, to be described hereinafter. It will be appreciated that inward and rearward working of the materials by the outer partial scroll sections 13 and 16 materially reduce spillage to the sides of the machine, and also causes disintegration of the material to occur not only adjacent the outer partial scroll sections 13 and 16, but along the cutter chains 21 and 22 as well.

Shaft 12 further includes a pair of partial scroll cutter sections 14 and 15 welded to intermediate tubular casing section 14a and disposed between cutter chains 21 and 22 as illustrated; and these intermediate partial scroll sections further define curved surfaces which work the material being mined into the cutter chains 21 and 22 along the inner edges thereof. As a result of the entire configuration described, therefore, the mined material is worked inwardly and rearwardly of the cutter head 11 along both sides of the cutter chains 21 and 22, and thence into the mouth of the machine.

Frame member 10 supports a further rotatable shaft 27 extending in a direction substantially parallel to shaft 12 but rearward thereof; and shaft 27 (see FIGURES 2 and 3) preferably is disposed below the level of shaft 12 and cutter chains 21, 22, at a position closely adjacent to ground level. Shaft 27 carries a scroll type conveyor 28 at a position closely adjacent backing and ground plates 29-29a provided as a portion of the frame member. The scroll type conveyor 28 is preferably a relatively small scroll (as compared with the size of partial scroll sections 13 through 16) constituting in a preferred embodiment of the present invention a relatively high speed six-inch scroll, whereas the cutter head and cutter chains cut a path in the order of twenty-one inches.

The backing and ground plates 29-29a, in association with the side plates 25a and 26a, form a partially enclosed area which may be considered the mouth of the machine, referred to previously; and it will be noted from the arrangement shown that the material is substantially entirely forced into this mouth of the machine during a mining operation, with the material thereafter being moved by the conveyors, to be described, with substantially no possibility of spillage whatsoever.

The material being mined, Worked inwardly and rear- Wardly by partial scroll cutter sections 1 3 through 16, is thrown into scroll type conveyor 28 by the combined action of partial scroll sections 13 through 16 and cutter chains 21, 22; and this material, now appreciably disinteg-rated, is transported at high speed to one side of the miner along flow paths such as those designated 30 (see FIGURE 1). The material worked into'the mouth of the machine, is thus ultimately transported along flow paths 25, 26 and 30 to one side of the machine; and this material is then thrown onto a further conveyor 31 disposed entirely to one side of frame 10 for transport to the rear of the miner.

As will be particularly noted from FIGURE 2, conveyor 31, which is of the chain type, has an inclined configuration; with the forward end of the conveyor being disposed closely adjacent ground level to the rear of scroll conveyor shaft 27. This inclination and disposition of conveyor 31 aids in maintaining a very small machine height. Moreover, the conveyor 31 is, by reason of its side rather than central disposition, adapted to be completely exposed, whereby a helper standing on the ground to one side of the machine can observe the material flowing along conveyor 31, and can manually remove any undesired materials moving along said conveyor. This represents a significant improvement over conveyor arrangements normally employed, wherein the conveyor is conventionally disposed at a significant height in partially enclosed relation along the central axis of the mining machine; for in such instances manual access to the conveyor is not readily feasible whereby separation of undesired materials from desired materials can be effected only after the material has been completely conveyed to the rear of the machine and loaded into appropriate receptacles.

Power for the cutting head 11 is ultimately obtained from an electric motor 32, e.g. a 50-horsepower motor, cooperating with an electric starter indicated at 33. The output shaft of the motor 32 is coupled to a transmission 34 and thence to a shaft 35 driving chain 36. A clutch 37 is provided to permit chain 36 to be engaged or disengaged as desired, whereby the cutting head 11 may be similarly engaged or disengaged during a mining operation. Chain 36 engages a rotatably mounted shaft 38 which acts as the main support for cutter chains 21, 22 mentioned previously; and the power from transmission 34, coupled to shaft 38 via shaft 35 and chain 36, is thence coupled to star wheels or sprockets 12a12b on cutter head shaft 12 through the agency of the cutter chains 21 and 22. Power from shaft 38 is also coupled via a further chain drive 39 to shaft 27, thereby eifecting drive to the six-inch scroll conveyor 28.

Cutter chains 21, 22 are disposed outwardly of a pair of plates, disposed generally parallel to plates 25a26a, and located at positions indicated as 40 and 41. Plates 40 and 41 are substantially longer than plates 25a26a, as illustrated. Power shaft 38 is journaled in, and extends between, said plates adjacent the rearward ends thereof, whereas cutter head shaft 12 is journaled in, and extends between and beyond, said plates 40--41 adjacent the forward ends thereof. Plates 40-41 moreover act as guides for cutter chains 2122, holding them in place relative to cutter head 11.

Interior plates 40-41 are connected to one another by a bar 42 welded thereto and extending across and above the mouth of the miner. Bar 42 includes a pair of pivotal joints 43, 44, engaged respectively by the pistons of a pair of cylinder type hydraulic actuators, one of which actuators has been designated (see FIGURES 2 and 3) as 45. The lower ends of hydraulic actuators 45 are also pivoted in a pair of brackets 46, attached to ground plate 291: and disposed closely adjacent ground level.

Fluid pressure is supplied to the actuators 45 by appropriate control means; and, by desired control of this fluid pressure, the cutting head 11 and its associated cutter chains 2122 may be variably elevated above ground level, as schematically indicated by dotted lines 47 in FIGURE 2. This control of fluid pressure is accomplished by an arrangement including a motor 48 mounted to the rear of frame 10, with motor 48 comprising for example a 7 /2 H.P. motor, and driving both a speed reducer 49 and chain 50, chain 50 being covered, as shown, by chain guard 50a. The output of speed reducer 49 is coupled to the side-located discharge conveyor 31 by a chain 51, covered by chain guard 51a, whereby this conveyor is driven by motor 48 with an appropriate speed reduction. Chain 50, driven by motor 48, drives a hydraulic pump 52; and said hydraulic pump thereby supplies fluid pressure to the actuators 45 from a hydraulic oil tank 53, under the control of a valve 54. An operator, standing to one side of the miner, may by appropriate manipulation of valve 54 thereby control the elevation of cutting head 11.

Movement [of the entire frame 10, and thereby of the continuous miner, is controlled by two rope drums 55 and 5-6 powered by a transmissoin 57 located above said drums and forward of the hydraulic tank 53, with transmission 57 ultimately receiving its power from the same motor 32 which drives transmission 34. Ropes (not shown) are normally supplied on drums 55 and 56, with these ropes being attached to roof jacks through sheaves (not shown) to control movement of the machine in any desired direction. Such ropes are principally employed to move the machine into or out of the material being cut; and the rope drums 55, 56 can be individually controlled for such purposes by two independent clutches (not shown) under the manual contnol of a pair of hand Wheels 58.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the entire machine is so arranged that material may be mined with a minimum of spillage, and with more efficiency than has been possible heretofore. The arrangement of the machine is such that, in a preferred embodiment, it may cut a place five feet wide and nine feet deep (or 45 square feet of area) for each move, although, as will be appreciated, the width of the head and dimensions of the cut may be different if desired. The ribs or sides of the entry mined are cut square by the arrangements of the present invention, and this result is of considerable importance since it leaves a uniform entry adapted for uniform timbering in the mine, with no further effort required.

A typical sequence of mining is illustrated in FIGURE 4, the diagrammatic illustration of this figure depicting a preferred method of mining with the apparatus of the present invention. Each of the areas broadly designated 1 through 6 inclusive, represents substantially 45 square feet (i.e. five feet in width by nine feet in length). The operator of the machine, who may stand at a location such as 60, controls the actual positioning of the machine and elevation of the head by appropriate manipulation of hand wheels 58 and valve 54.

The disintegrating head 11 is preferably first lowered to ground level and forced into a seam of coal or other minenal being mined, along the bottom of the seam (see FIGURE 3) for a depth of substantially fourteen inches, whereafter the operator raises the disintegrating head 11 and cuts the top of the seam. The material being mined is transported to the rear of the machine along conveyor 31, and this conveyor 31 may be associated with a further swing conveyor 61 to effect efficient transportation of the material to any desired location.

When finished at the top, the machine is then advanced, by an appropriate manipulation of the rope drums, another 14 inches, whereafter the head is lowered to cut the bottom coal again. After completing a cut of the entire area designated 1, the operator backs the machine out and moves it over to make similar cuts in the area designated 2. Cutting of area 3 follows, with the exception that after the normal nine-foot cut of this area is completed, the machine is further advanced into area 4 to cut this area 4 without retreating. Areas 5 and 6 are then cut in a manner analogous to the cutting of areas 1 and 2.

While I have thus described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, many variations will be suggested to those skilled in the art, andit must therefore be stressed that the foregoing description is meant to be illustrative only and should not be considered limitative of my invention. All such modifications and variations as are in accord with the principles described, are meant to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A continuous miner comprising a frame member mounted for movement into a body of mineral being mined, a disintegrating head on said frame member comprising an elongated rotatable shaft having a first pair of cutter sections thereon positioned closely adjacent the opposite ends of said shaft and shaped to direct mined material both inwardly and rearwardly of the ends of said shaft and toward said frame member during rotation of said shaft, said rotatable shaft also having a second pair of cutter sections positioned at a central portion of said shaft and shaped to direct mined material rearwardly of Said central portion, whereby continuous rotation of said disintegrating head into said body of mineral effects a disintegration of said mineral and rearward flow of said mineral toward and over a portion of said frame member with substantially no spillage to the sides of said head, a first movable conveyor on said frame member, motor means driving said disintegrating head, said motor means also driving elongated cutter chains disposed along the rearward path of flow of said material from said disintegrating head toward said first conveyor, said first and second pairs of cutter sections being shaped and positioned to work said mined material into both sides of each of said cutter chains during said rearward How of said material, said first conveyor being disposed substantially parallel to, below, and rearward of said elongated rotatable shaft for causing said rearwardly flowing material to flow toward one side of said frame member, said first conveyor means being disposed closely adjacent ground level and terminating at a position spaced'from said one side of said frame member, and'a second movable conveyor disposed along said one side of said frame member and having an inlet end disposed closely adjacent ground level in the space between said one side of said frame member and the termination of said first conveyor, and at substantially the discharge level of said first conveyor, for transporting said material to the rear of said frame member along said one side thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 including hydraulic means for positioning said disintegrating head and cutter chains at different desired positions relative to said frame member.

3. In a continuous mining machine, an improved cutter head comprising an elongated shaft positioned across the front of said machine, a pair of elongated motor driven cutter chains coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft, and a plurality of individually removable partial scroll sections carried by said shaft adjacent both sides of each of said cutter chains, said partial scroll cutter sections eachhaving an outer arcuate edge extending through an arc of more than 90 and less than 180 and having spaced cutter bits mounted thereon, said partial scroll cutter sections being both longitudinally and angularly spaced from one another and having oppositely curved surfaces adjacent opposite sides of each said cutter chain operative to work mined material into both sides of each said cutter chain and operative to effect a flow of said mined material toward said machine along flow paths adjacent both sides of each cutter chain and substantially parallel to the direction of elongation of said cutter chains.

4. A continuous miner comprising an elongated frame member mounted for movementinto a body of mineral being mined, a disintegrating head mounted at the forward end of said frame member and comprising an elongated rotatable shaft extending across the front of said frame member transverse to the direction of movement of said frame member, a plurality of partial-scroll cutter members longitudinally spaced from one another along said rotatable shaft and axially spaced from one another about said rotatable shaft, said partial-scroll cutter members including individually removable outer such members disposed adjacent the opposing ends of said shaft positioned and shaped to direct mined material rearwardly and at least partially inwardly of the ends of said shaft and toward said frame member during rotation of said shaft, said partial-scroll cutter members also including further individually removable such members disposed between said outer such members adjacent a central por tion of said shaft and positioned and shaped to direct mined material .rearwardly and at least partially outwardly of said central portion of said shaft and toward said frame member during rotation of said shaft, whereby continuous rotation of said disintegrating head during advancement of said miner into said bodyvof mineral effects a disintegration of said material and rearward converging flow of said mineral at positions between the ends and central portion of said shaft with substantially no' spillage to the sides of said head, and cutter chains disposed rearward of said disintegrating head in the paths of said convergingly flowing material whereby said converging fiow works said material into the sides of said cutter chains for further disintegration as said material flows rearwardly toward said frame member.

- 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said miner frame member includes a ground plate, a pair of upstanding side plates extending in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another rearward of said head, and an upstanding backing plate extending across the rear of said side plates, said ground plate, side plates, and backing plate forming an open-topped open-front receptacle adapted toreceive. said rearwardly flowing material 6. The structure of claim 4 wherein said partial scroll cutter members are attached to tubular casing members slidably disposed on said shaft, and means for removably locking said casing members atv predetermined positions on said shaft. t t

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein each of said partial scroll cutter members comprises an arcuate plate having an outer arcuate edge extending through an arc of less than 360, and a plurality of cutter bits mounted in spaced relation to one another along each said outer arcuate edge. I

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein each of said arcuate plates defines a curved surface, the curvatures of the outermost ones of said plates, disposed respectively adjacent. the opposing ends of said shaft, being opposite to one another to effect said inwardly directed flow of material adjacent the ends of said shaft, the curvatures of inner onesof said plates also being opposite to one another and opposite to the curvatures of adjacent outermost ones of said plates thereby'to effect said converging flow of. material. I

9. An improved cutter head for use on a continuous mining machine comprising an elongated rotatable shaft adapted to be positioned across the front of said machine; first, second, and third tubular means removably mounted and locked in spaced aligned relation to one another on said shaft, said first and second tubular means being disposed adjacent opposing ends of said shaft respectively, said third tubular means being disposed on said shaft between said. first and second tubular means; first. and second cutter chains engaging said shaft for rotation therewith, said cutter chains each comprising elongated endless chains having their directions of elongation extending transverse to said shaft, said first cutter chain engaging said shaft between said first and third tubular means, and said second cutter chain engaging said shaft between said second and third tubular means; and first, second, third, and fourth cutter means carried by said tubular means whereby removal of said tubular means from said shaft effects removal of said cutter means therefrom, said cutter means having curved surfaces adapted to effect a flow of material disintegrated thereby in particular directions relative to the directions of elongation of said shaft and cutter chains, said first and second cutter means being carried by said first and third tubular means respectively adjacent opposing sides of said first cutter chain and having their curved surfaces oppositely inclined to effect a fiow of said material inward of one end of said shaft and outward of a central portion of said shaft toward and along both sides of said first elongated cutter chain, said third and fourth cutter means being carried by said second and third tubular means respectively adjacent opposing sides of said second cutter chain and also having their curved surfaces oppositely inclined to effect a flow of said material inward of the other end of said shaft and outward of a central portion of said shaft toward and along both sides of said second elongated cutter chain.

10. The cutter head of claim 9 wherein said third tubular means comprises a single elongated tubular member extending between said first and second cutter chains.

11. The cutter head of claim 9 wherein each of said cutter means comprises a partial scroll cutter section having an arcuate outer edge extending through an arc of less than 360, and a plurality of spaced cutter bits removably mounted along each such arcuate outer edge.

12. An improved cutter head vfor a continuous mining machine comprising an elongated shaft adapted to be positioned across the front of said machine, a pair of elongated cutter chains coupled to said shaft at positions inward of the opposing ends of said shaft respectively, a first plurality of partial scroll cutter sections mounted on said shaft between the opposed inner sides of said cutter chains, and a second plurality of partial scroll cutter sec, tions mounted on said shaft between the outer sides of said cutter chains and the opposing ends of said shaft respectively, said partial scroll cutter sections each having an outer arcuate edge having spaced cutter bits mounted thereon, said partial scroll cutter sections in both said pluralities being both longitudinally and angularly spaced from one another and having oppositely curved surfaces adjacent the opposite sides of said cutter chains respectively operative to effect a flow of mine-d material toward said machine along flow paths which converge between the ends and central portion of said shaft, whereby said mined material is worked into both sides of each of said cutter chains and caused to move in directions substantially parallel to the directions of elongation of said cutter chains along the opposite sides of both said cutter chains.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,143,897 Flexner et al June 22, 19:15 1,336,440 OToole Apr. 13, 19:20 1,700,294 Levin Jan. 29, 1929 1,700,922 Coon Feb. 5, 1929 1,790,789 Bosworth Feb. 3, 193:1 1,851,037 Chubbuck Mar. 29, 1932 2,788,200 Barrett Apr. 9, 1957 

1. A CONTINUOUS MINER COMPRISING A FRAME MEMBER MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO A BODY OF MINERAL BEING MINED, A DISINTEGRATING HEAD ON SAID FRAME MEMBER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ROTATABLE SHAFT HAVING A FIRST PAIR OF CUTTER SECTIONS THEREON POSITIONED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SHAFT AND SHAPED TO DIRECT MINED MATERIAL BOTH INWARDLY AND REARWARDLY OF THE ENDS OF SAID SHAFT AND TOWARD SAID FRAME MEMBER DURING ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, SAID ROTATABLE SHAFT ALSO HAVING A SECOND PAIR OF CUTTER SECTIONS POSITIONED AT A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID SHAFT AND SHAPED TO DIRECT MINED MATERIAL REARWARDLY OF SAID CENTRAL PORTION, WHEREBY CONTINUOUS ROTATION OF SAID DISINTEGRATING HEAD INTO SAID BODY OF MINERAL EFFECTS A DISINTEGRATION OF SAID MINERAL AND REARWARD FLOW OF SAID MINERAL TOWARD AND OVER A PORTION OF SAID FRAME MEMBER WITH SUBSTANTIALLY NO SPILLAGE TO THE SIDES OF SAID HEAD, A FIRST MOVABLE CONVEYOR ON SAID FRAME MEMBER, MOTOR MEANS DRIVING SAID DISINTEGRATING HEAD, SAID MOTOR MEANS ALSO DRIVING ELONGATED CUTTER CHAINS DISPOSED ALONG THE REARWARD PATH OF FLOW OF SAID MATERIAL FROM SAID DISINTEGRATING HEAD TOWARD SAID FIRST CONVEYOR, SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF CUTTER SECTIONS BEING SHAPED AND POSITIONED TO WORK SAID MINED MATERIAL INTO BOTH SIDES 